As promised, another chapter. Thank you for the lovely messages and all.

We've lost it

Chapter 4

The first week after her husband sent her away was terribly difficult for Lucy. She had asked her doctor to give her a two-week excuse, but after spending the whole first seven days weeping and feeling utterly depressed, she decided to get back to work.

Lucy knew she was a pain in the ass and Juvia was having a hard time dealing with her in such a state, yet, she couldn't help it. The emotions took over her mentality and life at the moment and there was nothing that could cheer her up. How could there be something as such concerning the circumstances?

Juvia, however, wanted her friend to stay some more time at home and do something more than lament and wail around. Thus, she asked her to do some domestic works like cleaning and cooking dinner – all to keep the devastated woman busy and, hopefully, direct her thoughts on a different track. All in all, Lucy agreed to that and could be found vacuuming and washing things. She was also taking care of the food, which was making her feel useful and a tiny bit better.

At the end of the second week, she learned to cope with her wretched humor and the situation she was in. Actually, she started to consider taking a lawyer to begin the divorce case; after all, it seemed that it was all that Sting wanted.

The case was hopeless, obviously.

Nonetheless, even though the time was passing fast, she did not act on the divorce case. She had not heard from Sting in almost a month and she began closing that part of her mind to everyone, including herself. It was easier to handle the pain she was in that way. And the hurt she was feeing whenever she thought of her husband.

When the excuse ended, Lucy returned to the job. She didn't really notice any pitiful glances and was rather relieved by that. Maybe most of her colleagues had no idea of her situation at all? Either way, Lucy felt quite good.

Well, as much as she could have, each evening being a constant reminder that the man she loved, yes, still, wanted her away and out of his life, seemingly forever.

It had been over a month and she still had not heard anything from Sting. Not even a word. Lucy doubted he'd ever talk to her again at all; nevertheless, she was constantly on Juvia's head and even though the bluenette was not complaining, she knew it couldn't be like that forever. She had to move on and let Juvia have some privacy at last, meaning she should be looking for a flat for herself.

But, deep inside her heart, she was still shattered and she was oh so scared. Scared of the final thing, the fact that her husband was not even talking to her about the separation – scared of the nothingness she had been put in.

One day, when the women were sitting at home peacefully and chatting about some stupidities, someone rang the doorbell. Juvia, frowning, stood up and went to open up. Lucy heard a short conversation and the door closed. Yet, her friends seemed to stay in the hall.

"What is it?" Lucy called, a little distresed.

"I'm not sure… The guy said it's for you, but didn't say who sent it." Lockster walked into the room with a doubtful expression and a huge posy of roses. Red roses.

The blonde gasped and felt her head spin. "W-what?"

"Yeah, there's a note here. It simply says Lucy."

The called woman started up from her chair as if she were burnt.

"Show me that!"

She rushed to Juvia and grabbed the note, widening her eyes. Unfortunately, she didn't know the style of writing; her excitement lowered a little. How could she tell if the handwriting was alien to her? Who were the roses from?

"Looks like you have an admirer." Joked Juvia, who was watching the blonde, and handed her the posy. Lucy didn't reply, taking the roses still in shock.

Just what was that about?

Yet, it simply came out that it was just the beginning. Lucy started to be showered in presents and, each time, the guy bringing them to her refused to say who was the secret admirer.

She started to feel both stalked and happy. Moreover, there was something even worse in all that; a part of her hoped that it was her husband, and another part of her didn't. As much as she loved him and wanted him to realize he needed her, too, Lucy couldn't deal with him yet… Not after all of that had happened.

One day, when she was alone, she received another posy – that time with a card saying Sorry. Mrs. Eucliffe gasped and covered her mouth with her palm, her eyes watering and her chest clenching painfully.

It seemed that it really was Sting. Had he come to his senses? Had he realized that he couldn't go on without her? Or was it just to start talking about some not-so-nice topic like separation or a divorce? Lucy sighed heavily. She had no idea what to think anymore… It was like she didn't know him at all.

Meanwhile, Sting was half-lying in his flat, looking exhausted and simply terrible. He had dark bags under his eyes, was sitting in a untidiness, was constantly sighing… In fact, he was a total mess.

Ever since Lucy had left, he had gone through so many states of mind that he was shocked they could even vary like that in such a short period of time.

At the beginning, he was glad. He had had his peace and quiet, which he had desired so much. The wife he loved but wasn't in love with anymore was out of his sight and it was truly okay.

However, at some point, he started missing her. Slightly at first, more because he had to do everything at home. Then, it was only growing; he was surprised to realize he missed her touch, her smile, her simple presence. Her roaming around the house, mumbling to herself, the games they were playing… At some point, in desperation, he even tried to bring a woman to his flat and have a nice night, but right after coming in he had sent her away, feeling nauseous from the very thought.

Was Lucy right? Did it take just a little bit of effort to actually live together? To go through thick and thin?

If yes, and it seemed so, he was a total jerk.

Finally, after more than a month, Sting decided he had had enough and it was high time me tried to get his wife back. It was completely different to what he had been imagining before she had left; he was lonely and sad, and he simply missed everything Lucy was introducing into his life.

At last, he decided to talk to the one person who was the closest to his wife: Juvia Lockster.

Saturday morning, Eucliffe waited for the bluenette to leave her house – preferably alone. Still, the chance that she would go out alone was rather high since he knew Lucy liked to sleep longer. And he was right; when the bluenette left the house, he went after her… Just to enter the bakery after her.

He cleared his throat and, hoping not an overly dramatic scene would be made, he tapped her on the shoulder. Juvia turned to him slowly.

Their sights crossed. For a moment, they were calm and motionless, but suddenly Juvia raised her hand and slapped him so hard his head jerked to the side. Sting grimaced, but said nothing. He knew he deserved it.

"You asshole! You dare coming here?! You sent away your own wife and she's been living with me ever since because you ordered her to leave your house! She's been crying all the time! The first week she was hardly leaving her room or eating! The next one she spend weeping around, it took her a month to stop the tears! And now you come here and to me, intending to ask if she could forgive you and take you back?!"

"Um, yeah." He admitted, not looking at her. "I know I fucked up, but—"

"There're no buts, Sting Eucliffe. You fucked up hard."

Sting finally gazed at the woman and pleaded, forgetting about his pride:

"Juvia, I love her. I can't live without her. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize… But I miss her so much!"

"Unfortunately for her, she still cares about you." Lockster blew her hair back. "But I don't think she wants to see you now."

"Then what do I do?" Sting asked with frustration. Desperation was written all over his face.

She was glaring at him, musing. Finally, she sighed. "You can come over one day. See what she says. At this point, I can't tell what she'd do."

"I won't stop trying. I'm serious."

Juvia rolled her eyes. "You can't possibly hurt her more. And if you take a risk of you getting hurt, then I can't tell you not to."

Okay! Seems like an easy job for him... or not, right? 3:)